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Blasphemy Case in Karachi

“Had they not left the house, the situation could have been really bad,” - investigation officer Muhammad Bux

Approximately 600 extremists had attacked the St. Francis Church; photos courtesy: Shamim Masih

(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) - On Friday evening, when I reached in AFP Karachi office directly from the airport, I observed some 600 extremists had attacked the St. Francis Church, old Goli mar.

Earlier the house of the accused Ryan Brain Patris (boy) was ransacked and furniture was set on fire in a violent protest, this time it was not in a slum but in Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Karachi.

Ryan Brain, a 15-year old Christian boy, has been accused of sending text messages containing ‘blasphemous’ content to his Muslim friends. The numbers written in FIR are 0346-278 1298 (sender) and 0302 2222 544 (receiver)

The incident took place in the staff colony of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) located at the junction of University Road and Abu al Hasan Ispahani Road, Karachi.

Police said that the boy was accused by the residents that he had sent text messages containing blasphemous content to his Muslim friends.

As the SMS reportedly circulated among the residents of the colony comprising workers and officers, they eventually attacked the residential quarter where Ryan Brain, 15, and his mother, Rubina Bryan,live. That happened on Wednesday, police said. Ms Bryan worked as a superintendent at the SSGC, they added.

Items from the house drug outside and burned>

(Now the SSGC has suspended his mother from the services)

The SMS had been sent on Tuesday night.

However, apparently after realizing the gravity of the situation the family had vacated the house and been placed in a safe place, said a senior police officer of the area. I met his aunt Zahra Yousaf who works in a hospital.

“Had they not left the house, the situation could have been really bad,” the investigation officer Muhammad Bux said.

On Wednesday, the enraged people ransacked the house and set fire to the household articles, including the bed, washing machine and fridge, after bringing them out on to the main University Road.

The protesters also raised slogans against the family.

After the turmoil, police reached the scene and tried to appease the protesters assuring them that police would register the case.

A case (FIR No 432/2012) under Section 295-C (use of derogatory remarks, etc, in respect of the Holy Prophet) of the Pakistan Penal Code, Section 7 ATA (the Anti-Terrorism Act) and Section 25 of the Telegraph Act was later registered at the Mobina Town police station. (The offence 7 ATA should not apply, as it apply to those who involved in terrorist activities)

Shamim interviewing the investigation officer in this case, Saleem Khokhar, and a member Sindh assembly.

A duty officer of the police station said the FIR was registered against Ryan Stanten, son of Ms Bryan, a resident of SSGC staff colony on a complaint of SSGC chief manager Khursheed Alam.

People scared

Earlier in August, a 14-year-old Christian girl, Rimsha Masih, had been accused of blasphemy by a cleric in a suburban neighbourhood of Islamabad. She was finally released by a court and had to be airlifted to an undisclosed location for security reasons.

The court stated in its order, “in nutshell on the basis of illegalities committed by investigating agency of the police and prosecution agency the prosecution has failed to prove the charge against all the said accused persons. They are therefore, hereby acquitted of the charge.

About Shamim Masih

"I am Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."

Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Anonymous October 17, 2012 1:02 pm (Pacific time)

"...how exactly do you expect it to end?" The endi s spelled out in the Christian Bible Tariq. Have you read it? No pictures...Gotta love those Drones, maybe soon they will be outfitted with some nerve agents.

Editor: Isn't it interesting that they were able to teach feces how to fly from a distance? You will rot in hell you piece of shit, you are like one of those freakish fundamentalist taliban and you absolutely suck. No matter what, you are not a Christian, you are the dead opposite.

Tim King

Tariq Khan October 17, 2012 10:57 am (Pacific time)

Muslims in Pakistan are demonised in Western press as terrorists, CIA hired hudlums plant bombs and kill their people, Barry Obama sends drones to destroy villages and then they make anti-Islam films and publish inflamatory cartoons. When a Christian living amongst these Pakistani Muslims, one of their own countryman, starts insulting mimicking the western Press, how exactly do you expect it to end?